# The HEVC codec is missing on Windows

> Microsoft charges for the codec that decodes HEIC images. There are three legitimate ways to get it without paying, and three ways to skip it entirely.

Source: https://jpg-heic.com/fix/heic-codec-missing-windows | Section: Troubleshooting | Updated: 2026-08-31

## What is actually missing

HEIC support on Windows comes in two parts. **HEIF Image Extensions** reads the container — the
 box structure that says where the image, thumbnail and metadata sit. It is free, and Windows 11
 includes its functionality already. **HEVC Video Extensions** decodes the compressed pixels, is
 covered by patent pools that charge royalties, and is the one that costs money.

Install only the free half and you get the confusing middle state: Windows recognises the file, may
 even show a thumbnail briefly, then fails when you open it.

## Three ways to get it without paying

 - **Check for the manufacturer version**
 Search the Microsoft Store for **HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer**. Dell, HP,
 Lenovo, ASUS and Acer frequently license it, making this listing free on their machines. It does
 not always surface in search — sometimes it only appears via the prompt Windows shows when you try
 to open a HEIC.

 - **Let Windows offer it to you**
 Double-click a HEIC file in the Photos app. If Windows shows a "get the codec" link, follow it —
 that link sometimes leads to the free variant even when searching the Store does not.

 - **Install ImageMagick or IrfanView instead**
 Both read HEIC using open-source libheif and neither costs anything. They will not restore
 thumbnails in File Explorer, but they open and convert files reliably.

## Buying it

The paid **HEVC Video Extensions** listing costs about £0.79 or $0.99 and is a one-time purchase
 tied to your Microsoft account, so it installs on your other Windows devices too. If you deal with
 iPhone photos regularly, it is the cleanest fix — thumbnails work, Photos works, Paint works,
 Photoshop on Windows works, and everything behaves as though the format were native.

## Checking whether it worked

 - **Restart File Explorer**
 Open Task Manager, find **Windows Explorer** in the Processes list, and choose **Restart**.
 Newly installed codecs are not always picked up until this happens.

 - **Clear the thumbnail cache**
 Entries cached while the format was unreadable survive the install, so a folder can still look
 empty after everything is working.
 [Clearing them takes a minute.](https://jpg-heic.com/fix/heic-not-showing-thumbnails)

 - **Test with a known-good file**
 Open a HEIC in Photos. If it displays, the codec is functioning. If it still fails, the file
 itself may be the problem —
 [the diagnosis page is here](https://jpg-heic.com/fix/heic-file-corrupted).

 **If you only have a few files.** Do not install anything. The
 [browser viewer](https://jpg-heic.com/heic-viewer) opens them immediately and saves JPG copies that will work
 in every Windows application from then on. Codecs are worth installing when HEIC files arrive
 regularly, not for a one-off.

## Frequently asked questions

**Why does Microsoft charge for the HEVC codec?**

HEVC decoding is covered by patent pools that charge per-device royalties. Microsoft passes that cost to users through the Store listing rather than absorbing it across all Windows installations.

**Is HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer the same thing?**

Functionally yes. It is the same codec, licensed by your PC manufacturer instead of by you, and it is free when it is available for your machine.

**Do I need both HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions?**

On Windows 10, yes. Windows 11 includes the container support already but still needs the HEVC component to decode the image data.

**Can I open HEIC files without installing any codec?**

Yes. ImageMagick and IrfanView bundle their own decoders, and a browser-based viewer running WebAssembly needs nothing installed at all.